Cricket-Pakistan pick fresh faces for New Zealand series in leadup to T20 World Cup

FILE PHOTO: Cricket - ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 - Pakistan v South Africa - M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, India - October 27, 2023 Pakistan's Usama Mir celebrates after taking the wicket of South Africa's Aiden Markram REUTERS/Samuel Rajkumar/File Photo

(Reuters) - Pakistan have given three players their first call-ups to the T20 squad for next month's five-match series in New Zealand and also included Haris Rauf despite friction over the pace bowler's decision to skip the test tour of Australia.

The uncapped duo of right-arm pacer Abbas Afridi and wicketkeeper-batter Haseebullah Khan were named in the 17-man squad for the series which will double as T20 World Cup preparations for both nations.